Sony announces no 1080p resolution for 3D games on PS3; will leave strictly in 720p.

According
to Joystiq , PlayStation
3 games in 3D will have their HD resolution capped. While
demonstrating the newest version of the system at the Develop
Conference, Sony representative Simon Benson announced that
games that run at 1080p resolution will be downscaled in 3D mode --
per eye -- to 720p.

Speaking to Joystiq,
Benson stated that although the PS3 has
the capability of displaying a 1080p image, a resolution higher
than 720p has been restricted because Sony contends that a higher
frame rate would impact the quality of viewing.

Blu-ray
movies will retain the 1080p resolution. Blu-rays run at 24
frames per second, but games run at 60 frames per second -- upping
the resolution for games would compromise the smoothness of the
frames. While a "more cinematic game" could be
equipped to handle the 1080p resolution at the cost of frames, Sony's
current guidelines won't allow users to change settings, Benson
said.

A true 1080p image consists of 2M individual pixels,
about twice the amount shown in a 720p image. Benson added that even
trained computer graphic artist could barely tell the difference
between resolutions.

On the Newbies
Inc. website, Benson indicated that that online gamers
with a 3D
TV may have a competitive advantage over those playing on HD
sets.

"It all depends on the gamers to be honest.
Initially we were slightly concerned about this because we were
thinking, what if it makes it twice as easy or something like
that."

He also stated that 3D can have the effect of
making games more accessible for inexperienced players.

"I
think what’s basically going to happen is that anyone who has
stereoscopic 3D televisions and, for example, is playing a driving
game, I would imagine you’re likely to find that the accessibility
level is higher, that people would generally perform better on their
first go. But I think at the high end with the hardcore gamers you’ll
still see a [3D] advantage there, potentially, but the margins will
be far smaller."